[01/17/12 - 09:02 AM]ABC's Monday Builds to a 2-Month High in Adults 18-49ABC spins the numbers for Monday, January 16.

[via press release from ABC]

ABC's Monday Builds to a 2-Month High in Adults 18-49

With The Bachelor and Castle opposite strong competition from CBS' original lineup and Fox's 2-hour series debut of Alcatraz, ABC's Monday night grew week to week by 9% in Adults 18-49, equaling a 2-month high in the key young adult sales demo - since 11/21/11. In addition, the Net posted its top-rated Monday in 3 months with Adults 18-34 - since 10/17/11.

· ABC improved over the same night last year in both Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%).

Building steadily from 8-10pm and jumping 23% from its first half-hour to its final half-hour, ABC's The Bachelor was up week to week among Adults 18-49 (+9%) to match a season-best. In addition, the show also hit season-highs in Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and across all key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's Castle ran a strong second to CBS' Hawaii Five-0 in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while ranking #1 with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. In the hour, the ABC drama outdelivered NBC's Rock Center With Brian Williams by wide margins in viewers (+68%) and young adults (+77%).

· Castle surged over the prior week by 15% in Adults 18-34, scoring its highest number since October - since 10/31/11.

Quick Take for Monday, January 16, 2012
(Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Program Ratings)

ABC Delivers Top Adults 18-49 Performance on the Night Since November

ABC's "The Bachelor" Equals a Season High in Adults 18-49,
While Hitting Season Bests in Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and All Key Men Demos

ABC's "Castle" Ranks No. 1 at 10pm in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34,
Scoring its Highest Adults18-34 Performance Since October

Monday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

With "The Bachelor" and "Castle" opposite strong competition from CBS' original lineup and Fox's 2-hour series debut of "Alcatraz," ABC's Monday night grew week to week by 9% in Adults 18-49 (2.4/6 vs. 2.2/5), equaling a 2-month high in the key young adult sales demo - since 11/21/11. In addition, the Net posted its top-rated Monday in 3 months with Adults 18-34 (1.9/5 - tie) -- since 10/17/11.

· ABC improved over the same night last year (7.7 million and 2.3/6 on 1/17/11) in both Total Viewers (+4%) and Adults 18-49 (+4%).

"The Bachelor" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

Building steadily from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. and jumping 23% from its first half-hour to its final half-hour (2.2/6 to 2.7/6), ABC's "The Bachelor" was up week to week among Adults 18-49 (+9% - 2.4/6 vs. 2.2/5) to match a season best. In addition, the show hit season highs in Adults 18-34, Women 18-34 and across all key Men (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54)

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "Castle" ran a strong second to CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while ranking No. 1 with Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34. In the hour, the ABC drama outdelivered NBC's "Rock Center With Brian Williams" by wide margins in viewers (+68% - 9.4 million vs. 5.6 million) and young adults (+77% - 2.3/6 vs. 1.3/3).

· "Castle" surged over the prior week by 15% in Adults 18-34, scoring its highest number since October - since 10/31/11.

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 43% currently, from 38% at the same point in 2011.
More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 1/16/12.